The last book

It was almost closing when I walked into my local library. But unlike on previous visits, there was nothing but a cold, dark, creepy vibe. Yes, it was Halloween but that wasn't it.

As I walked a bit farther, through the cobwebs and insects circulating on the book stands - as if in mockery - I realized what had happened.

"They're all gone," Tammy said, voicing my thought before I could speak it. Tammy was the head librarian.

"Where are the other librarians, Tammy? Where are all the books!?

She looked down at her desk, smiled strangely, then quietly looked up at me. Her eyes glowed a bright crimson in this half light. "Everyone is gone. Every one is gone."

"The books? The people? What?"

She: "Both."

Apparently, she was clearing out her desk, because she had huge garbage sacks full of paper clips, notes, and from the looks of it, books.

"Are you taking some of the books, Tammy?"

She leaned over and whispered, "Shhh. There are cameras."

At that, she bid me farewell, filpped the light nearest her desk, and motioned for me to follow her outside.

"Can I give you a lift somewhere?" she asked.

I was self-conscious. Without a car in tony Tarrington I'd always felt a bit less-than.

"No," I replied. "I'm good."

"Ok. And Laurie, I know, this is a shock. You've been away, you didn't know."

"I was in the hospital, Tammy. After my second fall. I was in a coma for a year. It was very serious. I almost died."

"Well, last year when we started renovations we were really just planning this then. I can't say a lot more. I have my applications out to teach English. I am getting out of this field. I just can't work without books."

"But what do you mean?? Why are there no books?"

She picked up her pink iPhone and waved it at me. I nodded.

"But that cannot replace a book. That will never replace a book!"

"Oh really? I just finished The Red and the Black last night."

"But it doesn't have the feel of a book."

"Tell that to the suits, Laurie. Well, good luck to you. I hope you land that journalism job ..."

"I have been sick for a year, Tammy, I don't even know where to start ..."

"Well, you might start with acknowledging that AI has taken over. And there are no more books. I know we were fond of them."

"The smell! They always reminded me of grandmother's apartment."

"I know. But that smell is but a memory, the library as we know it is no more."

"So you are saying the library has closed?"

She nodded. Then she wiped a tear, jangled her keys, and walked to her tangerine Ford Fiesta and drove off.

...

The wind kicked up as the dark clouds swirled overhead. A distant crow cooed and cawed in the elms.

I looked down at my book bag. The books I had planned to return were apparently mine now: Macbeth and The Joy Luck Club. I walked to the bus stop, the fancy electric 201 quietly rushing up to greet me, its doors opening. No one aboard, Don the driver welcomed me.

"Where are all the passengers, Don?" I asked, climbing aboard.

"You tell me, Laurie, you tell me."